The Orange County Register posted this story over the weekend showing that public schools in Irvine and Los Alamitos are the best in Orange County based on a broad range of criteria. There are 27 districts in OC and 15 high districts.
The Register based its rankings are criteria including SAT/ACT scores, academic rankings via elementary and middle school levels, and Academic Performance Index.
From the story:
Irvine’s four high schools post the county’s highest rate of students enrolled in Advanced Placement classes and the top SAT scores. Meanwhile, district middle schools prepare the most students in algebra, allowing children to begin thinking about college at an earlier age.
For younger children, Los Alamitos Unified not only boasts some of the highest performing elementary campuses in the county, they also rank academically among the top schools in the state. The district’s six elementary schools recorded an average Academic Performance Index score of 945 out of 1,000 last year. Just 3 percent of all public schools in California reached that mark.
The 27,300-student Irvine Unified ranked as the best district for middle schools and high schools, while Los Alamitos Unified, with 9,600 students, ranked best for elementary schools.
“Irvine and Los Alamitos have built a reputation for academic achievement and quality that now draws parents from across the country,” county Superintendent William Habermehl said. “All the schools within those districts generally rank among the very best in Orange County.”
Parental involvement remains a critical aspect of academic success even in lower performing districts such as Orange, Santa Ana and Anaheim Union. Good schools attracts quality workers and the availability of a quality workforce makes Irvine and Los Alamitos a strong economic draw for companies seeking to relocate or expand. Quality schools also help maintain home values.